Ornamental candelabrum



June 11, 1957 BRUCE 2,795,124

ORNAMENTAL CANDELABRUM Filed Feb. 1, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I V June 11, 1957 R. E. BRUCE ORNAMENTAL CANDELABRUM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1, 1956 ORWAMENTAL CANDELABRUM Robert E. Bruce, Woodstock, N. Y., assignor to Malcolm Products, Woodstock, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 1, 1956, Serial No. 562,747

4 Claims. (Cl. 6725) The present invention relates to novel and ornamental candlesticks which can be assembled into artistic arrangements to form a candelabrum.

It has heretofore been customary to make candelabr completely assembled so that the purchaser must obtain an arrangement or configuration that will suit several occasions and surroundings or purchase several types. Candelabra are usually made of expensive materials and may even be plated with precious metals and as a result are expensive. Accordingly their market is definitely limited.

It is an object of the present invention to provide candelabra whereby the inherent disadvantages of the prior art are overcome and avoided. In accordance with the invention a plurality of candleholders can be easily arranged into various arrangements or candelabra of configurations pleasing to the individual esthetic sense.

An object of the invention is to provide inexpensive candleholders, which can be assembled into candelabra, capable of being mass produced of relatively inexpensive and readily obtainable materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide candelabra which can easily be changed in arrangement periodically to fit the surroundings or occasion.

A further object of the present invention is to provide candleholders that can be readily assembled to form artistic arrangements satisfying the need for periodic change in household arrangement of furniture and satisfying the creative urge of the individual.

Still another object of the invention is to provide practical and safe candleholders that when assembled in se- 7 lected arrangement are balanced and do not tend to tip over from the weight of the candles nor do they become accidentally disassembled so as to become unsafe.

Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a square candleholder in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagonal section taken approximately on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a circular candleholder.

Fig. 4 is a section taken approximately on the line 44 in Fig. 3.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are perspective views showing three of the many different arrangements possible with candleholders in accordance with the invention.

As illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, candelabra in accordance with the invention are assembled from a plurality of individual candleholders 1 and rods 2. In order to designate particular candleholders and particular rods, the candleholders are referred to as 1a, 1b, 1c, etc. while the rods are referred to as 2a, 2b, 2c, etc.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each of the individual candleholders 1 comprises a generally prismatic block which may be either hollow or solid and is formed of wood, plastic, metal or other suitable material. At the center 2,7 95,124 Patented June 11, 1957 of the block 1, there is provided a hole 3 of suitable size and shape to receive a candle C as illustrated for example in Fig. 5. The block 1 is preferably so dimensioned and of such weight as to hold candles of customary height without tipping over. In Figs. 1 and 2 the block 1 is shown as being made of wood and being approximately 4 inches square and inch thick.

In the corners of the block 1 there is provided vertical holes. 4 to receive the rods 2. If the blocks 1 are formed of material having suitable hardness and a suitable coeflicient of friction to grip the rods 2, the holes are formed directly in the material of the block 1. Alternatively, the holes 4 are formed in bushings 5 which are fixedly secured in larger holes 6 formed in the block 1. The bushings 5 fit tightly in the holes 6 and may, if desired, be additionally secured in the holes for example by adhesive. While a single bushing may be used in each of the holes 6, it has been found advantageous to use two shorter bushings as illustrated in Fig. 2. The bushings 5 are formed of rubber, fiber, plastic or suitable material that is sufliciently hard, tough and wear-resisting to retain the original dimensions of the holes and which has a sufiiciently co-eflicient of friction to assist in preventing the blocks from undesirably slipping on the rods when as sembled as illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7. The rods 2 and holes 4 are preferably of non-circular cross section for example square as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to prevent the rods from turning in the holes. The holes 6 in which the bushings S are set is shown as circular since it is more convenient to drill a circular hole. The bushings 5 thus serve the purpose of permitting the use of round holes 6 in the block 1 while providing non-circular holes 4 for the rods 2.

The blocks 1 and rods 2 can be assembled to provide candelabra of many different configurations of which 3 are illustrated by way of example in Figs. 5 to 7. In Fig. 5, a block 1a forms the base of the candelabra. Two additional blocks 1b and 1c are supported by rods 2a and 2b inserted into opposite corner holes of the block 1a and extending upwardly the blocks 1b and 1c being disposed at diiferent levels. Candles C are inserted in the central holes of blocks 1b and 1c. The rods 2a and 2b are of suflicient size and strength to support the blocks 1b and 1c and their respective candles even though the blocks are supported only at one corner. The rods 2a and 2b are sufficiently tight in the holes of the blocks and the co-eflicient of friction between the rods and the blocks (or bushings) is sufiicie'ntly high to prevent the block 1b and 10 from slipping down. Slipping is further resisted by reason of the fact that since the blocks 1b and 1c are supported only at one corner they tend to bind on the rods 2a and 2b. The blocks 1b and 10 with their respective candles tend to balance one another and the block 1a forms a stable base for the candelabrum.

In Fig. 6, 5 blocks 1d, 1e, 1f, 1g and 1h are arranged like stepping stones and are held in assembled relation and are supported by 4 rods 20, 2d, 2e and 2 The rods are staggered, rods 2d and 2 being disposed in a forward plane while rods 20 and 2e are disposed in a rear plane. The rods thus serve as legs providing a stable support for the blocks and their candles.

Fig. 7 shows another arrangement in which blocks 1g and ll serve as bases while blocks 1i, 1k and 1m are supported by rods 2g, 2h, 21' and 2 projecting upwardly from the blocks 1g and ll. Candles are inserted in the central holes of all of the blocks including those forming the base. The arrangements illustrated in the drawings are only a few of the many arrangements that are possible with the construction in accordance with the invention.

Still further variety can be obtained by using blocks and rods of diiferent shapes, colors, materials and sizes.

ice

an example of such modifica ions, th re is sho n in Figs. 3 and 4 a circular block 11 having a central candle-receiving hole 13 and a plurality of circumferentially spaced rod-receiving holes 14. The holes- 14 are of hexagonal shape to receive rods of like size and cross section. To save Weight and material, the underside of therblock is hollowed out as indicated at 14 leaving a flange 16 around the central hole 13 and a peripheral flange 11 which merges into bosses 18 around the holes 14. The block shown in Figs.v 3 and 4 can be readily molded from suitable plastic material. While bushings similar tolbushings 5 of Figs. 1 and 2 can, if desired be used in the rod-receiving holes, This is generally um necessary if the plastic or other material from which the blocks are formed. has sufficient strength and wearresistance and a suitable co-efficient of friction.

It will. be understood that the features of the severalernbodiments illustrated are interchangeable insofar as they are, not. incompatible and that many othermodifications'may be made Within: the scope of the present invention.,

What I claim and desire to secure, by'Letters Patent is:

l. A candelabrum comprising a plurality of square blocks each having a central candle-receiving hole and a hole adjacent each corner and a plurality of rods frictionally fitting in said holes. adjacent each corner, said blocks and rods being assembled with said blocks offset laterally and vertically from one another and said rods received in selected corner holes of said blocks and hold.- ing said blocks in selected position.

2. A ,candelabrurn comprising a plurality of blocks 4 each having a central candle-receiving hole and a plurality of holes adjacent the periphery of the block, said plurality of holes being each provided with a bushing, said bushings having a high co-efiicient of friction, and a plurality of rods frictionally fitting in said peripheral holes, said blocks and rods being assembled with said blocks offset laterally and vertically from one another and said rods received in selected peripheral holes of said blocks and holding said blocks in selected position.

3, A candelabrum comprising a plurality of circular candleholders each having a central candlereceiving hole and a plurality of holes adjacent the periphery of the candleholders and a plurality'of rods frictionally fitting in said peripheral holes, said candleholders and rods being assembled with said candleholders offset laterally and vertically from one another and said rods received in selected peripheral holes of said candleholders and holding said candleholders in selected position.

4; A candelabrum comprising a plurality of blocks each having a central candle-receiving hole and a plurality 05 holes adjacentthe periphery of the block, said blocks having the underside recessed, and a plurality of rods frictionally fitting in said. peripheral holes, said blocks and rods being assembled with said blocks offset laterally and vertically from one another and said rods References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 217,366 Groin n July 8, 1879 

